Maple Grove Radio Club

MGRC Mission Statement

Maple Grove Radio Club provides education to current and future amateur radio operators, with the goal of serving the public. We are a reliable communications resource for events and emergencies in Maple Grove and surrounding communities.

President's Message

Hello MGRC Members

Summer is flying by, and our radio calendar has been very busy!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our late-June Field Day a success. Whether you set up antennas, logged contacts, or cooked food, we had a great time testing our emergency power gear, talking with new friends, and making contacts across the country.

Our fall license class starts in October. Sign-up opens soon, so please let us know if you want to upgrade your license or help teach students.

Active work is continuing to get our Allstar Node up and running. It won’t be long now!

TALARC has purchased a trailer to serve as our new shack. They will be asking for us to step up and help with things like antenna projects and just getting things settled on the inside of the trailer for our equipment.

Join us on August 1st at 9:00 AM at the Chester Bird American Legion Post 523 in Golden Valley, MN. We will discuss these updates and our upcoming autumn projects.

Thank you for your hard work and support. Keep the dials spinning and I hope to hear all of you on the air!

73

Scott Henley, KFØFFE

Call for Volunteers

Antique Car Run on August 08, 2026. Participants will be driving automobiles manufactured before 1912, and occasionally, they may experience breakdowns requiring assistance. Typically, two tow or repair vehicles are available on the road to provide help. Here is the sign up link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CA9A92EAAFDC43-64269490-antique

Osseo Lions Roar Parade is September 12th 2026 from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. We typically have a float and do all the radio communications. We have a very friendly relationship with the Osseo Lions. They graciously do concessions at Midwinter Madness and this event is our way of saying thank you.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CA9A92EAAFDC43-64269503-osseo

Connect with Elmers/Mentors

Additionally, please follow the Maple Grove Radio Club Facebook page for frequent updates on club member activities.

Monthly Meeting

TALARC The American Legion Amateur Radio Club

Club Calendar of Events

Club Member Spotlights

Question 1: How did I get started in amateur radio?

I got started by listening to broadcast radio. I grew up in Robbinsdale during the 1950s with no television in our home where broadcast radio provided our news and entertainment. I strung an antenna outside so I could listen to more distant stations on a standard table radio. There was no Internet, long distance telephone calls were expensive, and international air travel was limited. The world was bigger then. I acquired a used 1940 Hallicrafters model S-19R receiver which introduced me to shortwave radio, foreign broadcasts, and amateur radio. I learned that Hams communicated by radio with each other all over the world, with headphones on and their hand on a telegraph key. I wanted to do that! I modified the Hallicrafters to work as a code practice oscillator using a WW II military surplus model J-38 straight telegraph key. I self-studied with ARRL publications to obtain an amateur radio license and took my 1st test at the FCC office in St. Paul. I passed the Morse code receiving and sending tests, the stringent written exam and received my Novice class license by US Postal Mail in 1964.

A Novice was a one-year, nonrenewable, license that offered limited Morse code operating privileges on special Novice HF frequencies. It was designed to prepare you for a General class license. Now I needed to get on the air! I built my own HF transmitter from plans in the ARRL Radio Amateur Handbook. It had 50 watts input, used plugin coils, and was crystal controlled. I built my own antenna tuner to work into my long wire antenna at my parents’ home. My first CW QSO was with a fellow Novice in Michigan on 40 meters. Soon after I moved to Dickenson North Dakota for my first fulltime job. I rented an upstairs apartment of a two-story city home that provided little opportunity for an antenna. I strung a telephone wire from the house to the alley telephone pole, loaded it up with my homebrew transmitter and coupler and continued my Novice CW ham radio adventure. The FCC required amateurs to keep a log of every transmission, tests, CQs and QSOs. I still have my paper logbook from those early days, the Hallicrafters receiver and the J-38 key.

I continued self-studies, improved my CW skills by operating, once again tested at the FCC office in St. Paul and earned my General class license. Now living back home in Robbinsdale I moved up to a SSB transceiver and the increased operating privileges. Two-Meter FM operation was a relatively new mode in the 1960s. Station equipment and repeaters consisted primarily of used tube type two-way radio gear modified for the two-meters. My first two-meter rig was a retired St. Paul Police mobile radio which I installed in my car.

Question 2: What is your most favorite part of amateur radio?

I enjoy HF radio the most operating SSB and CW modes. My wife and I enjoy traveling in our van size motorhome. I added a HF radio to it and do stationary operating while traveling and camping. As my antenna options are limited at home, I experiment with antennas in the field while traveling. In 2016 I participated in the National Parks On The Air (NPOTA) program and activated several National parks. I now enjoy Parks On The Air (POTA) a great deal and have activated over 800 parks. POTA ON!

Question 3: What is your most proud accomplishment in amateur radio?

Amateur Radio provided me a foundational interest which sparked a very enjoyable career in radio communications. Now retired, it keeps me active in technology, engaged in the community and making new friendships.

Question 4: Do you have any recommendations, words of wisdom, or ideas for newly licensed hams?

• Become a member and support the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

• Local ham radio clubs have different purposes and activities. Join one or more of them.

• Explore the many technologies and activities of ham radio and get engaged in those that interest you.

• Find a Elmer or two and learn from them.

Question 5: What is a memorable event, contact or radio gear item you would like to share?

Attending Dayton Hamvention in Ohio. It’s three days of amateur radio with much to learn and enjoy. I’ve been going there every year since 2016 and plan to continue.

Last Call: UNSEEN SIGNALS EXHIBIT

The life and contributions of radio pioneer Edward Armstrong

• The Regenerative Circuit (1912)
• The Superheterodyne Receiver (1918)
• Superregenerative Circuit (1920)
• Frequency Modulation or FM Radio (1933)

Receive Only Radio by Ray KØRAE

This is the second article in a series on Receive-Only radio. The May 2026 article discussed internet options if you don't have a radio. This time we will discuss AM DXing and radios that you might have even when you think you don't have one.

AM DXing is listening to AM broadcast stations. These are the same stations you might listen to a ballgame, or political and religious news with your car radio, home stereo receiver, or a portable AM/FM radio. Examples are: WCCO 830 MHz, Business 1440 MHz, and Sports 1500 MHz, Since they transmit down at the bottom of the HF spectrum, below the 160 meter ham band, they still have atmospheric skip properties. At theses lower frequencies, DX and regional skip happens mostly at night using the Ionosphere F-Layer.

Aaron Lewis (WØADL) suggest listening to your car radio during the day. Tune in the various AM radio stations and note which stations you can hear. Then at night, do this again and note the additional stations you hear. Don't be surprise when you hear Omaha, NE or Des Moines, IA. For more information on this, he recommends reading 'AM DXing 101: Am Introduction to AM DXing': https://www.onallbands.com/am-dxing-101-an-introduction-to-am-dxing/

If you don't have car or your car doesn't have an AM radio (I hear some of the newer cars don't have them anymore), you can use a home stereo, a portable AM/FM radio, or a Shortwave Radio as they used to be called in the old days. These used to be common household items and I bet a few of your older relatives, friends, or neighbors might one for you to use or borrow. You will need to connect a wire to the AM antenna terminals. Any wire will do - the longer the better and outdoors is best but not always necessary.

You don't need to have a ham radio to experience and experiment with propagation/skip. There are AM receive-only radios near by you that you can use and have fun with.

Ray Ehrlich - KØRAE

Interesting Media and Links

The above playlist is the Zero Retries Digital Conference 2025. I really think Steve N8GNJ is doing a great thing there. Plus 2026 Conference is happening Friday October 16th.

At the Northern Lights Radio Socitiy "Auroa" conference. (I highly recommend.) At the conference I learned about making QSOs with light. My mind was completely blown! Who knew you could make contacts with LED lights?!? Learn a little bit about this with Paul W1VLF.

Here is a interesting and inexpensive antenna project by Rudy K7RAW the "Antenna Whisperer". Rudy used a pool noodle and copper tape to construct a loop antenna. He even shows his homebrew variable capacitor setup to help tune the antenna.

Board Members

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